Tesla renamed FSD in Europe. The original name was misleading according to Germany

Tesla’s advanced driving assistant, which can be used on Czech roads since September, is losing its current name in Europe. The system previously known as Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is now called Tesla Assisted Driving. According to available information, nothing changes regarding what the car can do. However, the new name corresponds to what regulators have long been saying about the system: the driver must constantly monitor the operation, as they are still responsible for the drive.

Tesla conceded to the German Ministry of Transport

The change occurred after negotiations with Germany. The federal Ministry of Transport there stated in a Tuesday statement that the previous name FSD is “somewhat misleading”. According to the ministry, it is not a system that takes over all driving, but rather an assistant that helps with acceleration, braking, and steering. The driver must remain constantly attentive. According to the ministry, Tesla itself offered to rename the system.

Transport Minister Steffen Bilger met with representatives of the car manufacturer already in September. According to the ministry, both parties also agreed that the system may slightly exceed the maximum permitted speed, by a maximum of ten percent. Such an exceeding can, according to the ministry, contribute to smoother traffic flow in some situations. At the same time, the person behind the wheel remains 100 percent responsible for driving. Bilger now wants to push for the system to be approved by the entire European Union as soon as possible.

However, Germany was not the only one with reservations about the original name. Reuters agency, which obtained the documents through freedom of information requests, states that Swedish consumer protection advocates asked the local transport authority to assess whether FSD marketing creates the impression of fully autonomous driving. Italian authorities, in internal correspondence, warned that the name, along with promotional materials, could mislead drivers into believing the car handles a higher degree of automation, specifically Level 3 according to SAE classification. Both Tesla and the authorities classify the system as Level 2.

Changes are also visible on Tesla’s Czech website

The car manufacturer has already implemented the new name on its European websites. According to Reuters, the former FSD page for Slovakia now redirects to Tesla Assisted Driving, as it does in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. The American website, however, continues to refer to Full Self-Driving (Supervised).

The renaming also applies to the Czech Republic. Tesla’s Czech page bears the title “Regulatory approval has arrived” and describes the function exclusively under the name Tesla Assisted Driving. In several places, it reiterates that currently available features require active driver supervision and do not enable autonomous vehicle operation. According to the description, you start driving by selecting “Start Assisted Driving” after getting in.

The Czech Ministry of Transport approved the advanced driving system from September 21st as the seventh EU country, recognizing the provisional approval of the Dutch RDW authority.

Slovakia should approve FSD soon

According to Reuters, the system is currently permitted by eight European Union countries, with Slovakia expected to be the ninth within a few days. However, the EU-wide vote has been postponed from October to at least December, as some states, including France, are still conducting additional tests on the system.

Is the name Tesla Assisted Driving more understandable for you than Full Self-Driving?

Sources: Reuters, BMV, TechCrunch, Tesla